Combustion apparatus, including flame type ignition means



1951 R. H. GODDARD 2,569,887

COMBUSTION APPARATUS, INCLUDING FLAME TYPE IGNITION MEANS Original FiledNov.l8, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l a I; r- .2" I221 0 ,11 9 INVEHTOR I ROBERTH GODDARJLDEC'F J ESTHER GGonIARmExecuTmx BY mfimwa mw Oct. 2, 1951 R.H. GODDARD COMBUSTION APPARATUS, INCLUDING FLAME TYPE IGNITION MEANSOriginal Filed Nov. 18, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 m v5 H T R Roam-rH.GODIMRU,DEC'D ESTHER C. Gown/mu, Ex ecqm 1 x WILM/ EM Patented Oct. 2,1951 COMBUSTION. APPARATUS, INCLUDING FLAME TYPE IGNITION MEANS RobertGoddard, deceased,zlate of Annapolis, Md.,.by Esther C.Goddariexecutrix, Paxton, Mass.,. assignor of one-half. to The Danieland Florence Guggenheim Foundation, New York, N. Y.,. a corporation ofNew York fliiginal. application November 18,1941, Serial No. 419,617,now Patent No; 2,395,406, dated February 26,1946; Divided and thisapplication: December. 19;; 1945, Serial No. 635,996-

4" Claims. 1?

This application isa division. of original application Serial No.419,617,.filed November 18, 19.41:, now Patent Nos 2,395,406., issued.February 26,1946;

This invention relates to apparatus. particularlydesigned. for the.combustion of. a mixture oi liquid: fuel, as gasoline, and a liquid.oxidiz ing agent, as liquidrox-ygenl or liquid air. While certainfeatures of: the invention are capable of general application, theinvention is of exceptionaL value in connection with the propulsion of.rockets or rocket craft, in which gases are: continuously producedunder. pressure in a oombustionchamber and are continuously ejectedthrougha rearwardly open discharge nozzle.

An. important object of. the invention is to provide means to produceallarge ignition flame for a verybrief period, beginning: just prior tothe admissionof gasoline and-liquid oxygen when starting the. apparatusTo the attainmentofthis object, there is provided novel means forinjecting measured'quantitles of liquid fuel and liquid oxidizer to theigniter chamber when the apparatus is about tcbe started, together withimproved meansfor igniting. said intermingled. liquids. Provision isalso'made for rendering the ignition means inoperative as-soon as. said:intermingled liquids are ignited.

The invention further relates to arrangements and.- combinations of.parts. which will. be hereinafter described. andmore. particularlypointed out. in the appended claims.

A preferred form of. the. invention isshown in: the. drawings, in whichFig. l is a side elevation, partly in section, of theimprovedcombustion. apparatus Fig. 2. isa sectional side elevationof a fuelfeeding nozzle;

Fig. 3. is. a detail. sectional view,. taken along the line. 3-3 in.Fig. 2;

Fig. 4. isa. collective view, showing. structural .detailsofa deflectorshown in. Fig. 2;

clbsing; device. to be described; and

Fig. I0 is a partial" side elevation of the inner wall of. thecombustion chamber.

Referring to Fig. 1, the improved" combustion apparatus. preferablycomprises a substantially spherical casing and a discharge nozzle H. Aplurality of liquid fuel nozzles F and liquid oxygen nozzles H aremounted inspaced relation in the spherical side wall of the combustionchamber. Each nozzle F or H is also'located at the depressed apex of arectangular pyramidal metal shield or guard structure I2.

The liquid fuel or liquid oxygen issuing from each nozzle is diverted bya deflector l4 and flows laterally therefrom and substantially parallelto the surfaces of its pyramidal shield f2. The sprays of fuel andoxygen intermingle at the edges a of" the substantially square areasdefined by the shields l2',"as indicated'- in Fig. 10, and along theseedges combustible mixtures are formed and-combustion largely takesplace:

It will be noted in Fig. 1 that the combustion areas thus formed attheinterse'ctions a of the pyramidal guards or shields l2 aresubstantially spaced inward from the cylindrical casing Hi, as indicatedat b. Overheating of the casing is thus prevented. Openings I 5 in theshields l2 equalize the pressures on the opposite faces thereof. l

The detailed construction of one of the fuel feeding nozzles F is shownin Figs, 2, 3 and 4. Each nozzle' consistsof' a tube 211' havingarounded inner end welded orotherwise secured in an opening in thecasing lll-and'having a feed outlet 2].

A" valve rod 22- is secured at the inner end of abellowsmember'fi, andthe outer end of the bellows member is secured to the perforated outerend 20 of the tube 211': A compression spring S holds themember 23normally distended.

The rod 22- is provided with vanes or guide members 25 (Fi'gi 3) by'which it'isloosely cent'ered in-t'hetub'e 20'but is freelyslida'bletherein. Stops 2'6 are engaged by the vanes 25 to limitoutward. movement of the rod 22. Al. ipe 211 provides liquid fuelifromanysuitable source of supply; such: asza" pressure tank; throughashutoff; valve? V and reducing valveR', both of usual commercialconstruction.

. When thefuelpressureis sufficient to overcome the resistance of thebellows member Z3=andthe spring. St and the; atmospheric pressure.exerted on the bellows, the plunger or valve rod 2-2. will be.withdrawn. fromthe outlet 2 I r and. fuel willbeadmitt'edto.thecombustionchamben H is exactly the same as that of thefuel feeding nozzles F, except that the oxygen nozzles and connectionsare preferably jacketed to prevent evaporation of the liquid oxygen,which might otherwise cause gas bind in the apparatus. One of the oxygenfeeding nozzles H is shown in Fig. in which the jacket covering of thenozzle H and (5f its supply connection is indicated in broken lines. Theliquid oxygen may be supplied from a second storage tank through ashut-61f valve V reducing valve R and pipe 28 all as previouslydescribed. y

The liquid feeding devices F and H are all constructed to open at thesame pressure, and the reducing valves R and R maintain the liquid fueland liquid oxygen always at equal pressures. Consequently, when theliquid pressure rises to a predetermined point, all of the feedindevices F and H will open simultaneously and will feed .their respectiveliquids into the combustion chamber.

v .The deflector I4 provided for each feeding nozzlepreferably comprisesan inwardly pointed copper disc held in spaced relation to the opening2| by supporting members 30 and 3|, which members are notched-andcrossed as indicated in Fig.

4 and have their depending legs secured to the inner ends of the tubes20. The members 3|] and 3t are seated in slotsin the deflecting disc andare preferably secured and protected by brazing material, such ascopper, applied to the outer face of the disc.

The-fuel feeding devices F and the oxygen feeding devices H arealternately arranged in the inner surface of the casing l0, so that fueland oxygen will interi'riingle along each dividing lin a betweenadjacent pyramidal depressions (Fig. r

The supporting members 30 and 3| are mounted' on the nozzletubes 20 insuch angular positions that the depending legs thereof are aligned withthe'corners of the pyramidal guards or shields l2, so that very littlegasoline or oxygen .is sprayed along these corner surface intersectionsand consequently like liquids intermingle only slightly at the cornersof the square deflecting areas shown in Fig. 10.

' The fuel and oxygen feeding devices adjacent ,the discharge nozzle I land also adjacent the igniter K to be described are substantially thesame as the nozzles previously described, except for the provision ofspecial deflectors which divert the injected liquids in certaindirections only, rather "than in all directions as with the formpreviously described.

One of these special deflectors is shown in Figs. 5 and 6 and comprisesa deflecting element 33 mounted on a plate 34 which is secured to theinner end of the associated nozzle. The member 33 covers only asemi-circumference or less and is provided with a middle portion 35 andraised edge portions 36. With this construction, the liquid will bediverted toward the adjacent sprayed ?areas and away from the adjacentdischarge outlet or ignition device. The raised edge portions 36 reducethe density of the spray at the edges reduce the amount of sidewisespray, where the nozzles F and H and the deflectors 33 are placed closetogether, as around the igniter K of Fig. 1.

Substantially the same density of spray is thus refractory lining 4i andWelded or otherwise se-- cured to the casing Hl opposite the dischargenozzle ll. Spark terminals T and T are mountmember 60.

ed at opposite sides of the casing 40 but are suitably insulatedtherefrom and extend through the refractory lining 4|. Wires 42 and 43(Figs. '7 and 1) connect the terminals T and T to the secondary Windingof a spark coil 44.

One side of the primary winding of the coil 44 is connected by a wire 45to a battery B or other suitable source of current, and the otherterminal of the primary is connected by a wire 46 through a solenoid 50,wire 5|, second solenoid 52, wire 53, normally open contacts 54 and 55,and a wire 56 to the opposite pole of the battery B. The operation ofthese electrical connections will be hereinafter described.

In starting this improved combustion apparatus, it is desirable to havea relatively large volume of burning gases injected into the combustionchamber just prior to the admission of liquid fuel and oxygen throughthe nozzles F and H, so that the mingled sprays of these liquids may beimmediately ignited, thus avoiding any danger of explosion. It is notnecessary, however, that the ignition flame should continue aftercombustion is well started in the combustion chamber. Consequently theigniter K is provided with special devices for feeding limitedquantities of fuel and oxygen into the igniter chamber K just prior toadmission of fuel and oxygen to the combustion chamber C.

One of these special devices is shown in detail in Fig. 7, in which abellows member 60 is mount ed within an enclosing casing 6!, theperforated outer end 62 of which forms a guideway for a rod 63 whichextends outward from the plate 64 which forms the movable end of thebellows member 60. Gasoline is fed through a restricted connection 35 tothe inside of the bellows member 60, which is thus normally filled withgasoline. A spring 66 is provided to deflate the bellows member 6|] butthis spring is normally prevented from operating by a latch or plunger61 which is seated in a notch 68 in the side of the rod 63 when the rod63 is pulled out manually prior to starting. The spring 66 is too strongto be compressed by the liquid pressure in the bellows The plunger 61extends into the solenoid 52 previously described and is actuatedthereby. V

The casing 6! is mounted on a connection 70 extending through theigniter casing 40 and through the refractory material 4| and closed atits inner end, except for a relatively small opening H. An opening 12connects the interior of the bellows member 60 with the interior of theconnection T0, and this opening 12 is normally closed by a valve 13having a valve stem 14 slidable in perforated partitions 15 in theconnection 10. A light spring Hi holds the valve 13 normally closedagainst the pressure of the liquid in the bellows member 60.

The construction of the fuel feeding device above described isduplicated for the liquid oxygen, as indicated at til (Fig. l), theconstruction being identical except for the addition of the usual jacketto the oxygen feeding device.

Means fortiming the release of the liquids for the igniter with respectto the admissionof a; rod 82" which: is. non-conductive; of electricityand which. is: fixed; to the; movable end plate 83 of. thebellowsamember BI and slidable-through an opening in the; outer end ofthecasing. 80. The, space between: the casing. 8.0 and the bellowsmember. 8!. isiconnectedbyv a-tubaMto the pipe 21:- by which fuel. issupplied to, the. fuel nozzles F.

A-compression spring S. holdsthe bellowsmember- 81 normally. distended.

When. pressure. is exerted in the pipe .2], the

. bellow membertl will. be compressed, causing the rod. 82. to-move the.contact 55,.into engagement with itsassociatedcontact 54', .thuscompletinsacircuit through the, so1enoilds'50l and 52.

soon as. these solenoids are energized, the ,solenoid plunger 61 arewithdrawn, releasing the rods 63' so that the springs 68 may immediately'deflate the bellows members 60 in the devices 6| and 61 and" eject theliquids therein through the openings H to the ignitionv chamber'K'. Atthe same time the spark coil 44 is energized, producing sparks betweenthe terminals -T andT. The 'mixedliquids are thus ignited and thecombustion 'gases are-injected intothe combustion chambe (-3 as a largevolume of flame-which, however, is of relatively short duration.

The timing device shown in Fig. 9 'is set to'be deflated at slightlyless pressure than the bellows members n in: the fuel and oxygen nozzlesF and H. Consequently, the flame will be injected into the combustionchamber C slightly before the fuel and oxygen are fed from the nozzlesFand H. As soon as. the, ejecting action of the springs 65 and movableplates 64 has been completed, the valves 13. again close the openings 12and prevent further operation of the igniter K.

Itis important that the timeelapsing-between the beginning ortheignition flame and the admission of thel-iqu-ids be a minimum, in ordertoavoid burning or melting of the thin metal .structures inthe-chamberbefore they can be 5 protected by the-sprays of liquids.

In Figs. 1 and 8 there i shown the special construction which isprovided for cooling the discharge nozzle I I. For this purpose there isprovided aseries or longitudinally extendingstrips 99, each having athickened edge portion 9| welded or otherwise secured to the innersurface of the nozzle II and each having its upper end curved over andsecured as indicated at 92 in Fig. 1 to provide smooth entrance to thedischarge nozzle. The inside surfaces of the edge portions 9| arecurved, as at 9 l (Fig. 8) in order to avoid abrupt changes in directionof the streams from the nozzles F.

Fuel nozzles F are provided in the frustroconical wall of the nozzle ll,said fuel nozzles being spaced lengthwise of the discharge nozzle andalso spaced apart circumferentially and being located behind the strips90 as shown in Fig. 8. The nozzles F may be the same in construction andmethod of operation as the nozzles F previously described, except thatno deflector is required The liquid issuing through the end opening ofeach nozzle engages the inner side of the adjacent strip 90 at an acuteangle and is deflected circumferentially of the discharge nozzle, asindicated by arrows in Fig. 8.

The inner surface of the discharge nozzle is thusfieffectively cooled,while at thesa-me time there are no: shoulders nor openings inthesurface engaged by the ejected combustion gases and. consequently freedischarge of the gases is attained. The nozzles F arecommonlynor-flreduced' size and have smaller discharge openings than thenozzlesiF, so that only sufiicient liquid fuel is dischargedtherethroughto cool the adjacent metal surfaces. Combustion in thedischarge nozzle is not desired.

Having described the details of construction of this improved combustionapparatus, it is believedthat the method of operation and the advantagesthereof will be readily apparent.

In order to start the apparatus in operation, it is merely necessary tosimultaneously open the valves V and V (Fig. 1), which valves arepreferably connected by a link 95 and may be manually operated. Theliquid fuel and liquid oxygen under pressurein the storage tanksthenpass through the reducing valves R and R and into the distributing pipes21 and 281. As the pressure rises in the pipes 21' and 28 and in'thefeeding nozzles F and H, the fuel under pressure will overcome thebellows member BI and thespring S (Fig. 9) and will thus completetheignition circuit through the spark terminals T and-T". At the same timethe solenoids 5'0 and 5-2; will release the rods 1E3. (Fig. 7), so thatthe bellowsrmembers 60 may discharge fuel and oxygen into. ignitionchamber K, where the mixed liquidsareimmediately ignited.

:Such. ignition: takes place just prior to. the opening; of the valves Fand as: previously .explained,.-so that a considerable volume ofaflameis. present in the combustion chamber when, the

fuel and oxygen are admitted thereto. The igniter K then goes out ofoperation through exhaustion of liquids. in the bellows members 60 and.the; igniter and. solenoid circuits: are broken by. continued, outwardmovement of the ,non conducting rod. .82 -Fig. 9).. A stop- 82 limitssuch outward movement.

The combustion gases in the combustion chamber C are then elected.through the discharge nozzle H... The Walls of the casing I 0 and, ofthe nozzle U are effectively cooled. and proczrctedv durin combustion bythe shields l2 and the strips respectively and by the liquid filmsassociated'therewith.

To stop operations, it is merely necessary to simultaneously close thevalves V and V so that the feeding of fuel and oxygen to the combustionchamber will likewise be simultaneously stopped. This is desirable, asany residue of either liquid is objectionable and may cause damage tothe apparatus, particularly if excess oxygen is present. Any residualfuel combining with any residual oxygen after the flow of coolingliquids has ceased may cause burning of the thin metal casings andshields and other light structures. It will be noted also that theperforations [5 in the shields l2 are all adjacent the oxygen nozzles H,so that no fuel will accumulate behind the shields and be present in thechamber after combustion has ceased.

The use of a relatively small number of feeding nozzles, spacedsubstantially apart, is an important improvement over the use of a largenumber of very small feeding orifices, which has been the previouspractice. The larger outlets of the spaced nozzles substantially reducefriction losses. The terms combustion chamber and ignition chamber areused in the claims in their usual engineering sense to indicate both,normally containing small and predetermined "chamber, means to ignitesaid intermingled liquids in said ignition chamber, thereby productheenclosing structure and the area defined thereby and Within whichcombustion or ignition takes place.

' Having thus described the invention and the advantages thereof, I donot wish to be limited to the :details herein disclosed, otherwise thanas set forth in the claims, but what is claimed is:

- 1. In a combustion apparatus having a combustion chamber, and valvemeans for admitting combustion liquids for continuous operation ofsaidchamber, in combination, an igniter chamher opening into saidcombustion chamber, means .to inject a predetermined amount of liquidfuel to said igniter chamber, means to simultaneously inject apredetermined amount of a liquid oxidant 1 into said igniter chamber,means to ignite said intermingled liquids in said igniter chamber, anelectric circuit for said igniting means, and sequence-definingcircuit-changing means effective to render said igniting means operativejust prior! to the opening of said valve means to admit combustionliquids to said combustion chamber.

2. In a combustion apparatus having a combustion chamber and valve meansfor admittin combustion liquids for continuous operation of saidchamber, in combination, an igniter chamher opening into said combustionchamber, means 3' to inject a predetermined amount of liquid fuel tosaid igniter chamber, means to simultaneously -inject a predeterminedamount of a liquid oxidant into said igniter chamber, means to ignitesaid intermingled'liquids in said igniter chamber, sequence-definingmeans efiective to render said igniting means operative just prior tothe opening of said valve means to admit combustion liquids to saidcombustion chamber, and a device to render said igniter meansinoperative after a very limited time interval only.

- 3. In a combustion apparatus, in combination, a combustion chamber,means to feed liquid fuel and liquid oxygen to said chamber, an ignitionchamber communicating directly and openly with said combustion chamber,storage devices adjacent and connected to said ignition chamber andamounts of liquid fuel and liquid oxygen, means to abruptly andsimultaneously eject all of the .liquids stored in said devices to, saidignition ing an ignition flame of large volume but short duration whichis directed into said combustion a combustion chamber, means to feedliquid fuel and liquid oxygen to said combustion chamber, an ignitionchamber communicating with said combustion chamber, means to feedrelatively small amounts of liquid fuel and liquid oxygen to saidignition chamber, valve means controlling the feed of combustion liquidsto the combustion chamber, and feeding means controlling the feed ofcombustion liquids to the ignition chamber, means to supply said liquidsto said valve means and to said feeding means under increasing pressureand each of said means becoming operative in response to the attainmentof a predetermined liquid pressure thereon, and said feeding meansresponding to a lower liquid pressure than said valve means and therebyadmitting combustion liquids to the ignition chamber before combustionliquids are admitted by said valve means to the combustion chamber.

ESTHER C. GODDARD, Emecutriac of the Last Will and Testament of RobertH. Goddard, Deceased.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,879,186 Goddard Sept. 27, 19322,016,921 Goddard Oct. 8, 1935 2,061,873 Hutton Nov. 24:, 1936 2,090,039Goddard Aug. 17, 1937 2,117,108 Spencer May 10, 1938 2,279,546 ZieglerApr. '14, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 735,757 France Sept.6, 1932

